Georgia offers S. Ossetia ceasefire amid heavy clashes

Georgia has offered the South Ossetian authorities an immediate ceasefire to stop escalating fighting. "I offer you an immediate ceasefire and the immediate beginning of talks," said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, quoted by Reuters news agency. Georgia offers S. Ossetia ceasefire amid heavy clashes Both sides said their forces exchanged heavy fire near the town of Tskhinvali in South Ossetia on Thursday. Fighting resumed after overnight shelling, with at least 20 people injured, local officials said. A South Ossetian report spoke of 18 wounded. In addition, Georgia said at least two of its troops were injured and one of its armored vehicles destroyed. It said the village of Avnevi came under sustained fire from the separatists in Tskhinvali. Russia has close ties to the separatist administration in Tskhinvali. Russian and Georgian officials were expected to hold talks aimed at defusing the tensions in South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s. At least six people have been killed in clashes in the region in recent days. President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia. Russia's special envoy to the region, Yuri Popov, has gone to the Georgian capital Tbilisi for the talks, but South Ossetia has refused to take part, saying it will only agree to a meeting at which the Russian region of North Ossetia is also represented. "The South Ossetian side, in connection with recent events, has voiced doubts about holding such negotiations. If this is the case, then I... will conduct shuttle negotiations," Mr Popov said. The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia - unlike some of their Caucasus neighbors - and North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation. Georgian-Russian relations have been tense for months, with Georgia accusing Russia of actively supporting the separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian peacekeeping troops are deployed. The South Ossetian news website Cominf.org said 18 people were wounded in shelling overnight by Georgian forces deployed around Tskhinvali. There was no independent confirmation of that figure. Georgia's interior ministry said South Ossetian forces had started the latest fighting. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin discussed the latest escalation with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and "they voiced concern about the actions of the Georgian side near Tskhinvali, which can be regarded as preparations for war," the Russian foreign ministry said. Separately, Kokoity warned that his forces would drive Georgian troops from their positions near Tskhinvali if the shelling continued.

Georgia offers S. Ossetia ceasefire amid heavy clashes

Both sides said their forces exchanged heavy fire near the town of Tskhinvali in South Ossetia on Thursday.

Fighting resumed after overnight shelling, with at least 20 people injured, local officials said.

A South Ossetian report spoke of 18 wounded.

In addition, Georgia said at least two of its troops were injured and one of its armored vehicles destroyed. It said the village of Avnevi came under sustained fire from the separatists in Tskhinvali.

Russia has close ties to the separatist administration in Tskhinvali.

Russian and Georgian officials were expected to hold talks aimed at defusing the tensions in South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s.

At least six people have been killed in clashes in the region in recent days.

President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia.

Russia's special envoy to the region, Yuri Popov, has gone to the Georgian capital Tbilisi for the talks, but South Ossetia has refused to take part, saying it will only agree to a meeting at which the Russian region of North Ossetia is also represented.

"The South Ossetian side, in connection with recent events, has voiced doubts about holding such negotiations. If this is the case, then I... will conduct shuttle negotiations," Mr Popov said.

The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia - unlike some of their Caucasus neighbors - and North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation.

Georgian-Russian relations have been tense for months, with Georgia accusing Russia of actively supporting the separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian peacekeeping troops are deployed.

The South Ossetian news website Cominf.org said 18 people were wounded in shelling overnight by Georgian forces deployed around Tskhinvali. There was no independent confirmation of that figure.

Georgia's interior ministry said South Ossetian forces had started the latest fighting.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin discussed the latest escalation with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and "they voiced concern about the actions of the Georgian side near Tskhinvali, which can be regarded as preparations for war," the Russian foreign ministry said.

Separately, Kokoity warned that his forces would drive Georgian troops from their positions near Tskhinvali if the shelling continued.